Recent reports from sources close to the Moroccan national team have confirmed that team captain Achraf Hakimi will be absent from the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Gabon. The news comes after he sustained a muscle injury during Paris Saint-Germain's match against Brest in Ligue 1 last Sunday. This setback occurred just days before coach Walid Regragui announced the squad that would enter a training camp during the international break, which coincides with the commencement of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers featuring teams from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
According to the sports newspaper "Al-Mountakhab," Regragui has identified a potential replacement for Hakimi in the upcoming match against Gabon. The defender Omar Hiali, who plays for Espanyol, is among the first names being considered to step into the starting lineup. The same sources indicate that Hiali, who has been performing well with his club, having started in all five matches of the season, is the most suitable and ready option for Regragui to fill in for Hakimi.
The injury Hakimi suffered at the end of the first half of the PSG-Brest clash has compelled the Moroccan coaching staff to explore new options to strengthen the right-back position as the AFCON 2027 qualifiers get underway. During his time on the pitch, Hiali has logged a total of 435 minutes and contributed one assist in Espanyol's victory over Osasuna. At just 23 years old, he has emerged as a significant option for the Moroccan national team, especially given his recent improvements in both defensive and offensive play, bolstering his chances of making a return to the squad.
Hiali previously received a call-up to join the "Atlas Lions" under former coach Walid Regragui in September 2025, where he made his debut, albeit for just one minute, against Zambia. The Moroccan national team will kick off their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Gabon on September 25 in Rabat, followed by a match against Lesotho on September 29.
As reported by eremnews.com.
